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Watch an Exclusive Clip of Avengers: Infinity War
By Karina Schink
Today’s the day you get to add the latest Marvel film to your cinematic collection. Avengers: Infinity War is available today for Digital Download, and to celebrate this marvelous occasion, we have an exclusive clip to share of one of Executive Producer Victoria Alonso’s favorite moments–and we have to say that we love it too! Relive one of the “biggest cheer moments” of the film in the clip below, and again and again when you take Avengers: Infinity War home with you today!
See Who’s Returning for Star Wars Episode IX, Which Starts Filming Next Week
By Jocelyn Buhlman
Our weekend just made the jump to light speed with the news that Star Wars: Episode IX will begin filming at London’s Pinewood Studios on August 1, 2018. The last movie in the new trilogy, following our heroes Rey, Finn, and Poe Dameron (and adorable droid BB-8), has been eagerly awaited since the moment the credits rolled on Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and J.J. Abrams (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) returns to bring their adventures to a close, based a screenplay he co-wrote with Chris Terrio.
While the new film is shrouded in secrecy (what else did you expect?), here’s what we do know so far:
Familiar and New Faces of the Force
For the latest installment in this intergalactic saga, expect to see returning cast members such as Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, and Billie Lourd. Joining them will be Disney Legend Mark Hamill, along with veteran Star Wars actors Anthony Daniels, and Billy Dee Williams, who will reprise his role as our favorite smuggler with swagger, Lando Calrissian.
Newcomers Naomi Ackie and Richard E. Grant will join the cast, as yet-unannounced characters in the ever-expanding Star Wars Galaxy.
Continuing a Legacy
Starwars.com revealed that Leia Organa will return in Star Wars: Episode IX, portrayed by Disney Legend Carrie Fisher, using previously unreleased footage from Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
“We desperately loved Carrie Fisher,” said director J.J. Abrams. “Finding a truly satisfying conclusion to the Skywalker saga without her eluded us. We were never going to recast, or use a CG character. With the support and blessing from her daughter, Billie, we have found a way to honor Carrie’s legacy and role as Leia in Episode IX by using unseen footage we shot together in Episode VII.”
Settling the Score
What would a new Star Wars film be without its iconic score? Composer John Williams, who has made musical magic for the previous eight Star Wars films, returns to finish the Skywalker saga with a brand-new score for Episode IX.
Mark Your Calendars
It’s been a long journey across the galaxy, and the latest trilogy following the Skywalkers and their friends (and enemies!) will soon be coming to a close. Are you ready? Mark your calendars for December 2019 and get ready to go, once again, back to a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away….
5 Things to Know About Duffy’s New Friends (and Yours), ‘Olu and Cookie
By Beth Deitchman
The circle of friends continues to grow for Mickey’s favorite bear, Duffy, who has not one but two new friends you may have yet to meet: The curious and inventive Cookie, an adorable puppy who loves coming up with new recipes, is greeting guests at Hong Kong Disneyland; while the tenderhearted turtle ‘Olu (pronounced “Oh-loo”) can now be found at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, where an exclusive new line of merchandise becomes available to guests today.
Disney fans agree with Mickey, who discovered years ago, when he set out on his inaugural voyage with a teddy bear made for him by Minnie to keep him company during his travels at sea, that Duffy is one special little bear. As the story goes, Minnie filled the bear with happy memories and love, and Duffy came to life in Mickey’s dreams, comforting him and chasing away his feelings of homesickness—and becoming the best travel buddy Mickey could ever ask for. By delivering smiles and joy to guests around the world, Duffy lives in their imaginations, too, and now new friends Cookie and ‘Olu join ShellieMay, Gelatoni, and StellaLou in this delightful story world. Charlie Watanabe, Senior Story Editor for Walt Disney Imagineering, recently chatted with D23 about Duffy’s newest friends, who are sure to become your favorite cuddly companions, too.
The kindhearted turtle ‘Olu sang his way into Duffy and Mickey’s hearts.
Mickey and Duffy were sailing the islands in search of a perfect birthday present for ShellieMay, who was also made by Minnie Mouse (and filled with joy) so that Duffy could have a best friend by his side. The pair was drawn to the sounds of an ‘ukulele, played by a sweet turtle with an affinity for songs of love. ‘Olu then accompanied Duffy and Mickey to ShellieMay’s birthday party, where the trio serenaded the guest of honor with ‘Olu’s special song. “He’s a bit shy,” says Watanabe, “but he loves to play music for his friends.”
A most appetizing accident made Duffy and Cookie forever friends.
Duffy met Cookie, a darling floppy-eared puppy with a penchant for wearing a chef’s hat with a pink bow, under equally unexpected circumstances. Their paths collided—literally—and the cotton candy Duffy was about to take a bite of went flying, only to be caught by Cookie, who had already seen her own stack of waffles fly through the air, as well. Cookie—an avid foodie with a talent for combining ingredients and making culinary magic—was inspired and came away from her encounter with Duffy with a brand-new friend and a new recipe for a cotton candy waffle sandwich.
Duffy learns something from all of his friends… and so do we.
“Gelatoni sees the world with his heart,” explains Watanabe about the cat who loves to paint and draw, and who sees beauty in everything he sees. StellaLou, a hard-working girl with dreams of dancing on Broadway, danced her way into Duffy’s heart in New York in American Waterfront, teaching him that dreams aren’t just something we have when we’re asleep. Duffy and his friends’ stories come to life in books, in the parks, and on the hangtags that accompany plush dolls that guests purchase to take home. “Through reading the stories, we feel the innocence, the pure dedication, and the pure inventiveness,” says Watanabe. “As guests, we learn something from Duffy and his friends that we often fail to see or fail to feel in our everyday lives, and we all get a sense of comfort, security, and friendship from Duffy and Friends.”
That cotton candy-waffle concoction isn’t Cookie’s only “first”…
In addition to being the first puppy to ponder the pairing of two delicious treats, Cookie is the first of Duffy’s friends to make their global debut at Hong Kong Disneyland. She received a warm welcome from guests on July 3, and a host of new food and beverage offerings debuted in her honor, including “Cookie’s Cheese Cake,” “Cookie Blueberry Cupcake” and a range of desserts with adorable images of the precious pup. Guests at Hong Kong Disneyland have the opportunity to encounter Cookie every day at Main Street Cinema: My Journeys with Duffy. Watanabe notes that Cookie’s kitchen creativity stems from her innate curiosity, but he says, “She’s very curious about other new things, as well. She loves introducing new things to her friends. She gets so much joy out of her friends trying something she created.”
Guests at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa will be the first to say “Aloha” to ‘Olu.
Since Duffy’s first voyage with Mickey, he and his friends have become increasingly popular with guests from all across the globe. With the introduction of ‘Olu at Aulani and Cookie’s debut at Hong Kong Disneyland, Watanabe says, “More people can enjoy their love and their friendship—because I think Duffy and his friends are all about that message, and I feel like this world needs that more than ever.”
Summer Delights with ‘Olu, Bing Bong, and Elena of Avalor—Plus More in News Briefs
By Courtney Potter
Duffy’s newest friend debuts; the Inside Out favorite’s candy store opens; and Princess Elena comes to primetime TV… Read more, along with other news from around Disney, in this week’s news briefs!
Meet Duffy’s Newest Friend, ‘Olu, at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa
The adorable Duffy has a new pal to go on adventures with—and he just made his global debut at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, in gorgeous Ko Olina, Hawai’i: His name is ‘Olu, and his exclusive line of merchandise is now available!
Wondering how ‘Olu and Duffy met? One day, as Mickey Mouse and Duffy sailed around the islands in search of the most perfectly magical birthday present for ShellieMay, they heard someone strumming a tune on an ‘ukulele… after following the sound, they found ‘Olu, a warmhearted turtle, was responsible for the feel-good music! And what better present is there than music? So Mickey and Duffy asked ‘Olu to accompany them to ShellieMay’s party—and they all sang a special song together for their birthday friend.
Make sure to say “Aloha!” to ‘Olu the next time you’re visiting Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa. We can’t wait to meet him ourselves…
Save the Date!
Be sure to mark these upcoming Disney events on your calendar:
| D23 and Walt Disney Archives July 30, 2018 Attend the Red Carpet Premiere of Christopher Robin July 30, 2018 D23’s Behind-the-Scenes Experience: Toy Story Land Tour July 31-August 1, 2018 Be Among the First to See Disney’s Christopher Robin! August 6, 2018 D23’s Behind-the-Scenes Experience: Pixar Animation Studios August 10, 2018 Lunch with a Disney Legend – Jim Cora August 11, 2018 D23’s Saturday Morning on the Lot August 12, 2018 Mickey’s of Glendale Summer Shopping Event November 16-18, 2018 Destination D: Celebrating Mickey Mouse August 23-25, 2019 D23 Expo 2019 Parks August 17, 24, 28, 31 September 3, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25, 28, 30 October 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 23, 25, 26, 28, 30, 31 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom Park August 30-November 12, 2018 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival September 7-October 31, 2018 Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort Summer 2019 Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Opening at Disneyland Resort Fall 2019 Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Opening at and Walt Disney World Resort |
Studios August 3, 2018 Disney’s Christopher Robin opens in U.S. theaters November 2, 2018 The Nutcracker and the Four Realms opens in U.S. theaters December 19, 2018 Mary Poppins Returns opens in U.S. theaters Television August 10, 2018 Disney Channel Original Movie Freaky Friday premieres on Disney Channel (8–9:45 p.m. EDT/PDT) September 21, 2018 Elena of Avalor: Song of the Sirenas premieres on Disney Junior (7–8 p.m. EDT/PDT) |
Make Candy-Coated Memories at Bing Bong’s Sweet Stuff—Now Open!
We’ve previously told you about all the fabulous fun you can have at Pixar Pier inside Disney California Adventure park, including some of the land’s “coming attractions”… well, one of them is now open, and we couldn’t be more thrilled for the sugar rush in store! Bing-Bong’s Sweet Stuff—themed after the beloved character from Disney•Pixar’s Inside Out—is located in the Pixar Promenade neighborhood, and it’s now offering guests a delightful assortment of candies, caramel apples, rainbow cotton candy, and all manner of Pixar souvenirs, accessories, apparel, and accessories. But wait, there’s more: Jangles the Clown will be serving up some delicious Memory Refreshers, frozen drinks available in a ton of flavors and colors.
Get your sweet tooth ready and remember to pay a visit to Bing-Bong’s Sweet Stuff the next time you’re at the Disneyland Resort!
New Elena of Avalor Prime-Time Special to Debut This September
Hear ye, hear ye—the kingdom of Avalor has a very special announcement: Princess Elena is coming to prime-time television this fall! Elena of Avalor: Song of the Sirenas, an hour-long TV movie event based on Disney Junior’s über-popular Elena of Avalor, will premiere on Friday, September 21, at 7 p.m. EDT/PDT on Disney Junior and the DisneyNOW app.
In the special, Elena (voice of Aimee Carrero) travels to Nueva Vista—a place that she used to visit when she was a child—and reconnects with her cousin Duke Cristóbal (guest voice Javier Muñoz, of Broadway’s Hamilton), who has been keeping watch over the city. While there, she encounters a group of mermaid-like sea creatures called sirenas and learns about their complicated history with humans. In an attempt to make amends, Elena befriends the sirenas and enlists their help to defeat evil sorceress Shuriki (recurring guest voice Jane Fonda). The super-special guest voice cast also includes Gina Rodriguez (Jane the Virgin), Edward James Olmos (Disney•Pixar’s Coco), Rita Moreno (One Day at a Time), Prince Royce (East Los High), and Rosario Dawson (Marvel’s The Defenders)—who join regulars including Carerro, Jenna Ortega, Chris Parnell, Yvette Nicole Brown, and Carlos Alazraqui.
Plus, following the premiere of the TV movie, Disney Junior will debut a series of shorts called Elena of Avalor: The Secret Life of Sirenas, which delves deeper into the everyday lives of the sirenas.
Look for Princess Elena’s latest adventures in just a few months’ time!
Don’t Miss This Adorable New Extended Christopher Robin Sneak Peek
On August 3, we all go back to the Hundred Acre Wood for some fantastic, brand-new adventures with Winnie the Pooh and pals in Disney’s Christopher Robin. And here’s a great way to get ready: a fresh extended sneak peek for the film… Check it out, above!
In this heartwarming live-action adventure, the young boy who embarked on countless adventures in the Hundred Acre Wood with his band of lovable stuffed animals has grown up (portrayed by Ewan McGregor) and lost his way. Now, it’s up to his childhood friends to venture into our world and help Christopher Robin remember the loving and playful boy who is still inside.
Directed by Marc Forster, Christopher Robin also stars Hayley Atwell, Bronte Carmichael, and Mark Gatiss—and features the voices of Jim Cummings, Peter Capaldi, Brad Garrett, Toby Jones, Nick Mohammed, and Sophie Okonedo.
Mark Those Calendars: ABC Announces Fall Premiere Dates
The new TV season is just around the corner, and ABC is preparing to thrill audiences with a host of new shows and returning favorites. And now we have premiere dates—which means we can plan our themed food and beverage menus for each evening… (We can’t be the only ones who do that, right?)
The big 2018–19 season kicks off with the premiere of the 27th installment of Dancing with the Stars on Monday, September 24—followed by the second-season premiere of The Good Doctor. The new drama A Million Little Things, starring Ron Livingston (Boardwalk Empire) and James Roday (Psych), premieres that Wednesday, September 26. Nathan Fillion—who charmed audiences in both Firefly and ABC’s recent detective dramedy Castle—returns to the network in the much-anticipated drama The Rookie, which will debut on Tuesday, October 16… the very same evening viewers will first enjoy two new comedies: The Conners, a spinoff of the groundbreaking show Roseanne, and The Kids Are Alright, inspired by creator Tim Doyle’s Irish-Catholic upbringing in the turbulent 1970s.
Plus, Dancing with the Stars: Juniors will pair celebrity kids with professional junior ballroom dancers beginning Sunday, October 7, and The Alec Baldwin Show will offer in-depth conversations with some of today’s most intriguing personalities starting Sunday, October 14. Fan faves like Grey’s Anatomy (ABC’s longest-running series) and Shark Tank will offer up premieres on Thursday, September 27, and Sunday, October 7, respectively.
For a full list of the 2018–19 fall premiere dates, visit our pals over at ABC.com.
All the D23 Comic-Con News That’s Fit to Print!
If you kept your eyes peeled on D23.com this past weekend, you know we were down in San Diego, California, for the mega-huge (and mega-fabulous) San Diego Comic-Con 2018. Need a refresher on all the amazing stuff that happened? No worries! Read our rundown of all the Disney magic, including a look at both of D23’s incredible panels, “90 Years of Mickey Mouse” (featuring the debut of the brand-new Mickey Mouse birthday portrait by animator Mark Henn) and “25 Years of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas” (moderated by very special guest Neil Gaiman).
But that’s not all: Disney Channel previewed a picture of actress Sadie Stanley as the title character for the new live-action Kim Possible film, above. And Freeform got into the action by announcing a second season of their hit series Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger
It was truly a jam-packed weekend of Disney fun… we had a blast!
Tasty Treats at Chicken Guy!—Disney Spring’s Newest Eatery
As just announced by our friends at Disney Parks Blog, there’s a brand-new quick service restaurant opening at Disney Springs next month. Chicken Guy! is the creation of celebrity chef Guy Fieri and restauranteur Robert Earl, two culinary superstars who most recently collaborated on the new burger and sandwich menu at Planet Hollywood—and are working together once again, creating an all-new concept that features one-of-a-kind, all-natural fresh chicken tenders (available either fried or grilled) and a whopping 20 different varieties of house-made sauces.
Need a side to go with those yummy chicken tenders? Look for Chicken Guy! Fries tossed with their signature seasoning; Mac Daddy Mac ‘n’ Cheese; and Loaded Fries smothered in SMC (“SUPER MELTY CHEESE!”) and topped with chopped grilled chicken, bacon, and green onions. Those wanting lighter fare will appreciate the Chicken Guy! Salad Bowls—featuring lots of fresh veggies… and for dessert, try one of the restaurant’s Flavortown Frozen Treats, including the Triple Double Mint or Cinnamon Apple soft-serve delights.
Fire up those taste buds and keep an eye out for more info—including the restaurant’s official opening date—soon.